So this woman walks in It’s like two in the morning Maybe later I don’t know I’d been there awhile Anyway She takes the booth across from me even though literally every other booth is open And that already PISSED me off The waitress comes over Coffee? (Black) That’s it No please No thanks Nothing She pours it She doesn’t drink it I remember that because I kept thinking Why order coffee if you’re just gonna sit there and stare at it? I tried not to look at her You know when you’re trying not to look at somebody so now you’re extremely aware of where they are? That (Long night?) Yeah Something like that (It’s about to get longer) Okay Weird FUCKING thing to say Then the lights go out Not flicker Out Whole place Maybe three seconds They come back She’s looking right at me I never told her my name She said it anyway I didn’t ask how I think that’s when I knew enough not to ask Apocalypse Sitting across from me Coffee going cold While the whole world starts to leave Apocalypse Calm as she can be I said Shouldn’t you be out there? (I am) Then everybody’s phone goes off All at once You know that emergency sound? That Except there aren’t any words Just Nothing Blank screen This woman by the register starts calling somebody No answer Calls again No answer The waitress says the landline’s dead Somebody tries the door Locked Which It wasn’t locked before So now everyone’s talking Except her She’s drinking her coffee now Of course she is I look at her What is happening? (Depends) Depends on what? (You) What the fuck does that mean? She shrugs Actually shrugs Something hits somewhere outside Hard enough to shake the glasses Everybody ducks She doesn’t And that’s when I ask Are you— I don’t even know why this is what came out Are you Death? (No) Then what are you? (Ahead of him) Oh Apocalypse Sitting across from me Coffee cup is empty And there’s nowhere left to leave Apocalypse Calm as she can be I said Is this really happening? (Already did) I don’t know how long we sat there Could’ve been five minutes Could’ve been an hour Nobody’s phone worked anymore The woman stopped calling The sirens stopped too Honestly That was worse Then she gets up Just Gets up Leaves some cash under the cup I actually laughed I couldn’t help it You’re leaving a tip? (She had a long night) What? She starts walking away Wait Where are you going? (Next table) I look around There’s nobody else there Apocalypse Was sitting across from me Coffee stain An empty chair A dead TV Apocalypse Didn’t come for me Not tonight Not yet The door opens She walks out And I swear I swear to you The second her foot hits the street everything comes back on Lights Phones TV All of it The waitress looks at me Says You okay? I look across the table Coffee’s still warm I don’t know Maybe Then the TV says there’s been some kind of incident three states over I look out the window She’s gone I left cash too
